Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-13

worth while to thank the junior clerk
for the information he had given, Tom
my was perfectly satis6ed. He Knew
that pc eople did not forget things which
save their pockets.
1t happened that, some months after
the Incident Of the Mudford Chemical
Company, Messrs. Hodgson had impor.
tant business to transact in Turin, and
it was thought advisable that the senior
partner should proceed to that city to
look after it. There was some idea, il
the prospect seemed favorable, of start.
ing branch house there. The question
then arose, which of the clerks should
accompany the head of the firm as his
secretary; and Mr.. Hodgson, mindful of
the service which Mathers had rendered
him, consulted the head cashier on the
propriety of the selection. Parkinson,
it appeared, had favorite of his own,
and Tommy would have lost his oppor.
tunity if he had not remembered that at
one time, when he was bent of acquir.
ing foreign tongues, he had spent many
evenings over an italian grammar. He
contrived to let this fact be known, and
in due time Mr.. Parr informed his senior
partner that cit seemed that young
Mathers knew something Of the Ian
guage."
This decided the point. Tommy re.
ceived his orders, and in three days
more found himself on board the Dover
and Calais packet. in charge of large
dispatch-box and Mr.. Hodgson's bulky
portmanteaue. The journey was by no
means comfortable one, for the young
man found that he was expected to
travel second.class, and generally act as
courier to his employer. When at last
Turin was reached things were no bet.
ter. Mathers found that his italian
went but very little way; and, besides
he had to do the work of three clerks.
Sometimes he was tempted to regret
that he had left his comfortable rooms in
Torrington Square, Bloomsbury; but in
calmer moments he reflected that at
least he was occupying different po.
sition from that of the rest of his fellow
clerks
The chief man in Turin, so far as
Hodgson, Dunford, and Parr were con-
cerned. was o certain Count Marsoni,
The Counts nobility did not prevent his
being the principal member of large
firm of merchants and ship owners. To
cultivate this mans acquaintance, was,
indeed. the chief reason of Mr.. Hodg.
sons journey to Turin, and, as the old
banker knew very well how to lay aside
his crusuy aud pompous manner when it
su ted his book to do so, he soon came
to be not unfrequent guest at the Villa
Marsoni.
Mr.. Hodgson began to see that there
was a very fair opening for an English
bank at Turin, and he was still engaged
in pushing his way here and there, when
he received news that his wife was seri.
ously ill. This made him hurry off to
England, leaving Mathers behind to
complete transaction which he had
already practically arranged.
Delighted at being left to represent
the firm, for ever SO short a time, and
ever SO formal a matter. Mathers was
pacing one day down the principal
street of the city with look OF consid.
cradle importance on his face when he
met Count Marsoni. The Count stopped
and asked after the old banker. when
Tommy proudly informed him that he
had returned to England, leaving him in
charge of the firm.
cab, indeed. Well, there's q little
matter wanted to speak of to him."
II shall be happy to serve you,
Connt" said Tommy in his very best
Italian.
"Well, suppose you dine with US to.
night, and we can talk it over after
returned the Count, who
thought he ought ito show . little atten.
tion to the lonely Englishman.
Of course the invitation was accepted,
and Tommy had no sooner entered the
drawing room at the Villa Marsoni
than he lost his heart at once, irrevoca.
bly, and forever. Maria Marsoni was in.
deed beautiful and vivacious enough to
have turned the head of wiser and
colder blooded man then Tommy Math.
ers, and os ready was he to amuse her
by efforts to speak q language that he
partially knew, that he won more favor
in the maiden's eyes than many Q more
brilliant talker could have done. Such
an impression, indeed, did the signo.
rina's bright eyes make upon Tommy's
heart that he was barely
able to give due attention to the Count,
when. after dinner, he began to talk of
his bills, discount, MORTGAGES, and de.
bentures.
Time went on; Mr.. Hodgson did not
return to Turin, aud Mr.. Mathers paid
several visits to the Counts residence,
coming away more in love every time.
by dint of going about con-
tinually among the citizens, the young
man was able to send home so good q
list OF prospective customers that the
partners determined to establish o
branch Office at Turin, and offer young
Mathers subordinate post in it.
Nothing definite, however, had been
liked, when one day Tommy, finding
Maria Marsoni alone when he called at
the villa, lost his head completely, and
was making love as well as his imperfect
of Italian permitted, when
The Count, suddenly coming in, caught
him in the act of kissing his daughters
hand.
Maria fed like hare disturbed on
ner form, and the Count advanced with
l heavy frown on his aristocratlc brow.
More as matter of form than any
hing else-for he knew his case was
hopeless-Mathers formally asked the
hand of the signorina in marriage, lay.
ng the blame of his irregular declara-
lion ON the strength of his passion and
MS ignorance of Italian etiquette.
the Count heard him to the end, and
hen surveyed him from head to foot
with LOOK Of contempt.
'lt is piece of gross presumption in
vou--a mere clerk, nObody-to address
ny daughter" said the Count at last 10
English, with his chin in the air.
'Of course" said Tommy bitterly,
'tung by the Counts look. "If were
! partner in Hodgson's, though, you
would give me different answer"
IF you weres o partner in Messrs.
aodgson. Dunford & PARIS" said the
Count, with an altered expression,
that would make q difference, of |
course; but as do not understand that |
'ou have any prospect of entering that
irm, l don't see how that affects you."